French Authorities Arrest Four Additional Suspects in Louvre Jewellery Heist

French investigators have arrested four more individuals in connection with the audacious jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum on 19 October 2025.

The new detainees comprise two men (aged 38 and 39) and two women (aged 31 and 40), all reportedly from the Paris region, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. The arrests bring the total number of people detained over the case to more than a dozen.

The heist remains one of the most dramatic museum thefts in recent European history: a professional-looking crew entered the Apollo Gallery using a truck-mounted lift and broke through glass display cases in under eight minutes, making off with eight historic pieces of the French crown jewels estimated at roughly €88 million (~$102 million).

Investigators believe the suspects may have already dismantled or altered the stolen jewellery to avoid detection, and the whereabouts of most of the loot remain unknown.

While the roles of the newly arrested individuals have not yet been formally disclosed, the prosecutor noted that the investigation has now likely identified all members of the core four-person gang that executed the raid.

The motive appears organised rather than opportunistic, and authorities say the methodical timing and planning suggest insider knowledge of museum routines and security vulnerabilities.

The incident has triggered dramatic scrutiny of museum security protocols in France. Officials conceded that the Louvre’s surveillance and exterior access controls were inadequate to prevent the break-in.

A high-level security audit has been launched, and the museum has temporarily closed portions of the facility in response.

Source: Reuters, Associated Press, The Washington Post